Combination of Technology and Process

Mobile application developers are faced with the "chicken or the egg" dilemma: Should they first choose a mobile business application platform and then detail their business requirements according to what's possible with that platform? Or should they map out the business requirements first and then choose a mobile platform that can best support those needs?

A combination of both approaches is recommended. An initial, high-level requirements analysis is essential in pursuing an effective mobile strategy. But the specifics of what you can accomplish will be important to the details of your business processes.

If ease of development is important to your IT department, factor it into your mobile application platform selection. If Time to Completion (TTC) is an important criterion, factor that into your platform selection. If platform stability and security are key requirements, elevate them when choosing your platform.

Once you have tentatively selected a platform, you may be able to engage professional services from the vendor to help you develop detailed business requirements that best reflect the capabilities of that platform.

The good news is that metadata-driven, mobile business application platforms are available today; they can help you achieve an optimal convergence of IT and business strategies. These platforms can deliver the kind of highly sought after business applications that users expect-while simultaneously preserving the security and integrity of your IT business practices.

Regev Yativ is President and Chief Executive Officer at Magic Software Enterprises (Americas). Regev is responsible for the company's business operations in the Americas (North America, Canada and Latin America). Prior to his appointment in January 2008, Regev served as senior vice president of international sales for Magic Software. In this position, Regev was responsible for Magic's offices and operations in Europe and Japan, and managed the distribution network team in charge of Asia Pacific, Latin America and South Africa.

Prior to joining Magic Software, Regev was COO of Agro Marches International S.A Group in Paris, a company specializing in Oracle-based software and eBusiness platforms. There, Regev managed all of its branches worldwide. Regev was also the CEO of G.E.D B.V. (Kardan Group) in Amsterdam, an investments and business development group dealing in software and eBusiness solutions throughout Europe. He was also vice president of sales at the Nasdaq-traded Edusoft, specializing in educational software and Web-based eLearning and assessment platforms. Regev holds a B.A. from Israel's Tel Aviv University. He can be reached at regev_yativ@magicsoftware.com.

Regev Yativ is President and Chief Executive Officer at Magic Software Enterprises (Americas). Regev is responsible for the company's business operations in the Americas (North America, Canada and Latin America). Prior to his appointment in January 2008, Regev served as senior vice president of international sales for Magic Software. In this position, Regev was responsible for Magic's offices and operations in Europe and Japan, and managed the distribution network team in charge of Asia Pacific, Latin America and South Africa. Prior to joining Magic Software, Regev was COO of Agro Marches International S.A Group in Paris, a company specializing in Oracle-based software and eBusiness platforms. There, Regev managed all of its branches worldwide. Regev was also the CEO of G.E.D B.V. (Kardan Group) in Amsterdam, an investments and business development group dealing in software and eBusiness solutions throughout Europe. He was also vice president of sales at the Nasdaq-traded Edusoft, specializing in educational software and Web-based eLearning and assessment platforms. Regev holds a B.A. from Israel's Tel Aviv University. He can be reached at regev_yativ@magicsoftware.com.